Good evening, everyone.

Today is Thursday, February the 19th.

My name is Trippy Congo, president of Wilmington City Council.

On behalf of all of my colleagues, we would like to thank you all for joining us this evening.

Those of you who are in Council Chambers and everyone who is with us virtually.

We are going to begin with an opening prayer from Mary Alina Rivera.

Heavenly Father, we have assembled to handle the affairs of our city.

As we do so, we ask for your guidance and understanding.

We pray that our city reaches a place of peace and safety.

Keep us out of harm's way and bless those who are in authority.

Let respect be key in all our endeavors.

Councilman Owens.

Councilwoman Oliver.

Present.

Councilwoman Harlan.

Present.

Councilwoman Willower.

Councilwoman McCoy.

Councilman Johnson.

Here.

Councilman Field.

Present.

Councilwoman Bracey.

Councilwoman Cabrera.

Councilman Hackett.

Here.

Councilman Spadola.

Here.

President Congo.

Here.

Ten present and three absent.

Thank you.

If there is anyone who is virtual or in council chambers who would like to give public comment and you haven't signed up yet, you still have about ten minutes to do so.

For those of you who are virtual, there is a Google form sign-up link in the chat.

For anyone who is in Council Chambers, there is a sign-up sheet just before me.

Right beyond, right by the double doors.

I also like to announce that council member Owens is holding his legislation this evening, an ordinance to authorize and approve a lease agreement with bottling group LLC for a portion of 3505 Governor Prince Boulevard for use as East Lauren Park.

February 5th, 2026.

President Ernest M.

Congo II presiding.

The opening prayer was done by Mary Alina Rivera.

I move the minutes be accepted as written.

Second.

It's been properly moved and seconded the minutes be accepted as written on the question.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried.

This time we will have our community report.

February 9th, 2026, President members of City Council.

Ladies and gentlemen, we, your public safety committee, met by anchor location and remote participation to who has referred ordinance number 26-004 entitled an ordinance to establish a temporary moratorium on smoke shops within the city of Wilmington.

Have given this ordinance careful review and recommend council vote on it at an upcoming council meeting.

Respectfully submitted those members of the public safety committee, those members present, Councilwoman McCoy, Councilman Spadola, Councilwoman Bracey, Councilwoman Darby, Councilman Johnson, Councilwoman Oliver, President Congo.

I'm willing to committee report be received, recorded and filed.

Second.

It's been properly moved and second the report be received, recorded and filed on the question.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Motion carried.

At this time we will have our city treasurer's report.

February 19, 2026, total investments 574,641,531 dollars and eighty-four cents.

Total cash on hand, 20,149,721.10 cents.

Grant total 594,791,252.94 cents.

Submitted City Treasurer Dwayne Simms.

I'll move the treasurer's report BBC recorded and filed.

Second.

It's been properly moved and second the report be received, recorded and filed on the question.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried.

I will accept the motion to move to accept all non-legislative business.

So move.

Second.

Okay.

It's been properly moved and seconded to accept all non-legislative business on the question.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried.

At this time, we will have our recognition resolutions.

Councilmember Oliver.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'd like to ask Velda Potter and um Wooly and her family to please come up or family and friends, please come up.

Vita Vita V, not Belda's no L.

Come on now.

Talking about a judge here.

Get your whole self together.

Come on up.

You want her to move down some?

Okay.

Um I'd like everybody to know this is Vita Woolley.

She's um, I want to say this first.

She's one of the youngest um black um judges in the state of Delaware and Attorney, attorney attorney.

Yeah, attorney general's office.

I'm just so you say she's an attorney.

Attorney General's office.

Okay.

This is somebody y'all need to know.

Okay.

Whereas it's the sense of city council to honor individuals and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and deserving of recognition and acknowledgments.

The Wilmington City Council seeks to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of Vita Woolley Esquire MBA, a trailblazer who has been particip practicing law since she has since she was just 23 years old and who has amplified excellence, leadership, mentorship, and service in her field.

Vita Woolley, Esquire MBA, a proud Delaware and has achieved the extraordinary distinction of becoming licensed to practice law in Nevada, Delaware, Pennsylvania, passing each George's dictionary bar examination on her first attempt, including complete in two bar examinations within a single year in February 2025, at just 28 years old.

Miss Woolley passed the Delaware Bar examination widely regarded as one of the most rigorous in the nation.

Whereas in July the 20, in July 20, 2025, Miss Woolley passed the Pennsylvania administration of a unformal Bayar examination, uniform bear examination on her first attempt scoring the top 10 in her class, test takers and making her now eligible to practice an additional four 41 jurisdictions, including New York, distinguishing herself as raising herself as a rising legal mind and a role model for young professionals throughout the city and the state of Delaware.

And whereas Miss Woolley was raised in Wilmington by her father, noted um entrepreneur Dave Woolley, he has passed a paton to Miss Woolley to carry on his legacy and innovation and inspiration, which she has transferred into a model, modern a modern model of public service, advocacy and business leadership to the city and the state.

And whereas Ms.

Woolley is currently serving as the deputy attorney general for the state of Delaware, acting as a general counsel to the Office of Management and Budget OBM of the state most critical and wide-reaching agencies, where she provides strategic legal advice on statewide procurement, contracting, regular compliance for four-year securing transactions, legal drafting with work impacting virtue every commercial industrial.

Miss Woolley serves as associate producer on award-winning documentaries, such as Dion Warwick, associate producer on the Dion Warwick, don't make me over.

We all saw that down the theater and all throughout the city and on TV.

The film premiered on CNN as a broadcast on HBO, Nanda Beer resided at the City Council, and the Wilmington Council recognizes and congratulates Ms.

Velda Vita Woolley, MBA continuing the proud professional legacy of those like Lewis Redding, who came before her.

We wish her to continue success and impact of all her and Denver's.

Appreciate it.

Council Member Johnson.

I just want to say congratulations as a fellow member of the bar and someone who's kind of um worked in in the barristers and and diversity, um, former diversity chair as well for the state.

This is what we look forward to, the homegrown coming back to serve.

So you're a testament to Wilmington, so thank you.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

I just want to say to you, Vita, congratulations on this significant accomplishment and achievement is both.

And um, to my fellow fellow neighbor, I'm very proud of you and keep up the good work.

That's all I have, Mr.

President.

Um second, I just have to say without crying that I am humbled and honored by all of these wonderful members of City Council to recognize my daughter.

I have to also say that it's also today is a very touching day because 28 years ago, around the same time, I was being honored by and councilman Norman Oliver.

Vita was one year old, and just like I was holding her son, I was holding her up here 28 years ago.

Thank you, bro.

So to have lived that number of years and see life come full circle in this wonderful, beautiful city of Wilmington, Delaware, and now to watch me pass the baton at this age to my daughter and allow her to continue the legacy of the Wooly family as Gibbs uh in this beautiful city.

Um, it is really humbling and honor, and I thank God and each and every one of you.

Thank you.

Next we have Councilmember Harley.

Good evening, thank you, Mr.

President.

Good evening, everyone.

At this time, I'm going to ask that all the black business owners to please join me down here at the podium.

All the black business owners that were invited to receive this recognition.

You can meet me down here.

And while you're making your way down, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So while yes, thank you for that.

Thank you.

Well deserved.

So while you're making your way down here, I just want to say uh before I read this resolution that it is my honor and it is a pleasure to uh present this resolution um on this evening on behalf of President Trippy Congo, yours truly, your fourth district city council representative, as well as my city council colleagues that are here on this evening.

And we wanted you all, each and every one of you that's a business owner downtown.

We wanted to honor you on tonight.

We wanted to appreciate you on tonight for your number one for your economic leadership, for being uh a great contributor for all that you are contributing to the downtown area, as well as your entrepreneurial creativity, and most of all, for your commitment as a business owner to uh have your business downtown here in the city of Wilmington.

We know that it is not easy, especially post-pandemic.

Um, I know we are a few years beyond the pandemic, but for some, I know that you are probably still struggling a little, but we want you to know during this Black History Month that we do honor you, we do appreciate you, and we do appreciate you having your business downtown in the Fourth District here in the city of Wilmington.

So at this time, I'm going to read the resolution that we have for each one of you that came on tonight.

February 19th, 2026, sponsor council president trippy Congo.

It is the sense of city council to honor individuals, organizations, and special occasions that demonstrate outstanding achievement and are deserving of recognition and acknowledgement.

Council President Trippy Congo recognizes the importance and significance of the month of February as Black History Month.

Whereas Black History Month is an annual celebration to recognize the heritage and achievements of Black people in the United States.

Also, known as African American History Month, the Evid the event grew out of Negro History Week.

Spearheaded by historian Dr.

Carter G.

Woodson and other prominent African Americans in 1926.

The birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass inspired the creation of Negro History Week.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month.

Since this time, every United States president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.

Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom also devote a month to celebrating Black history.

The city of Wilmington takes pride in the rich cultural history and diverse population.

This Black History Month, we salute the innovative spirit of the Black Business Community.

Downtown Market Street in particular has long been the heart of Wilmington, historically serving as a gathering place for the city's black community and a hub for commercial and social activities.

It continues to host a variety of black owned businesses that contribute to the social and economic vibrancy of our city.

Whereas Black owned businesses on downtown Market Street and throughout our city represent the entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and resilience of Wilmington's Black community, providing goods, services, and opportunities that enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike.

The success of these businesses not only supports economic growth, but also builds our shared community.

Whereas this council extends special appreciation to 10K, The Long Way, Too Much Boutique, Bridge or Gallery, Green Box Kitchen, Jet Phoenix, Juxtamod, La Fade Gallery, Marley and Me, Midnight Flavor Restaurant and Bar, Milk and Honey, Nailed by London Studios, Oath 84, Serena Soul Food, Cyborg Cafe 4, Stop the Violence Coalition Incorporation, Academy for Peace, Town and Shore Apparel, Urban Fork Restaurant and Bar, WJVS Radio for the innovative and unique character they have bought to Wilmington's entrepreneur landscape.

Now therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Wilmington that this legislative body hereby recognizes and commends Wilmington's Black owned businesses for their invaluable contributions to our city's economy, culture, and heritage.

We honor your efforts to uphold the longstanding legacy of black excellence, innovation, and leadership in this great city.

Job well done, everyone.

So at this time, we're going to give you, I was giving orders to ask each one of you to only take 30 seconds, and we're asking that you please be obedient, and we do celebrate each and every one of you on tonight.

Um my name is Tanay Brown.

Um I'm the owner of Juxtamide, uh, which is a which is a retail business that I started back in 2017 in Philadelphia.

I'm from Wilmington, and I decided to bring my business back home.

And I'm very excited, and I'm looking forward.

So summer of 2026, I will be opening at 308 North Market.

Um I can't wait to see everyone there, hopefully.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um just first, I want to thank City Council, everyone, trippy for this acknowledgement.

My name is Jet Phoenix.

Um, me and my partner Oz.

We just want to bring creativity to Wilmington.

My job is to bring be the new Tyler Perry and bring film to Delaware, and that's what I'm here to do.

And I just want to let you know.

My name is Jason Navilez.

I'm the owner of Green Box Kitchen.

We're located right here in the heart of downtown Wilmington, Delaware.

Um, you know, when most people hear the word small business, they don't think anything of it.

When in fact, the data shows that 99.9% of all businesses in this country are small businesses, which means that small businesses are the backbone of every single community.

I don't know if you guys know the data, but two out of every five black-owned small businesses in this country fail by the end of year one.

Nearly 80% of black owned businesses fail by year three in this country.

The fact that we are standing here, it's not by accident, it's by commitment.

You see, we wake up every day and we not only choose difficult, but we conquer difficult.

I've had my business for a little over six and a half years, and I'm a testimony to the commitment, the dedication, and the engagement that it requires to not only be open and not just survive, but thrive.

Thank you to the city of Wilmington and the Wilmington City Council for creating this moment for us all to be seen.

I appreciate it.

Hi guys, my name is Ryan.

I'm the owner of 10K.

I thank you guys for appreciating me for this acknowledgement.

Um, I own a sneaker store and clothing store on Fortune Market right next to Green Box, and I'm just here to create style, you know, and creativity, just like Jeff.

Leading everyone, Tim Dobson, Milk and Honey, 339 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware.

We're so proud to be here in Wilmington, Delaware.

We're from Philly.

Um, owned a restaurant in Darby, Pennsylvania.

And let me tell you, this is different.

I feel the love here.

We're gonna do a great job.

So coming down the milk and honey, get yourself a cup of coffee, croissant, even the salmon rap or what have you.

Hey, I'm just marketing this stuff here because we got we're gonna survive, we're gonna make sure that you're gonna get a lot of love in your food, the best customer service in the whole wide world.

So come on down the milk and honey 339 Market Street.

I'm here, my wife Christine.

But wherever.

We from the hood, but you know, even make food good.

Good evening, everyone.

It is so delightful to be in this illustrious body.

Thank you, President, and thank you, our illustrious Catholic woman of my destination.

I claim it myself.

Some of you may or may not know, but in 2001, right there at Shipley Street, and it was Shipley Street and Forth.

Little Damon Giss Jr.

and Darnell Evans Jr.

were both shot and killed in the barber shop there.

There was an outcry from the city.

Many of you participated in the rallies and the march to have a major voice in stopping violence in our city.

From that time in 2001 until today, I have been the founding executive director of Stop the Violence Coalition Incorporated.

And in 2016, I had the opportunity with the governor now mayor to open the Academy for Peace in downtown Wilmington.

Keeping that voice and presence alive in downtown Wilmington has been my delight.

And along with Eunice LaFaye, we have been on that block in Wilmington, the Loma District for 10 and 11 years.

I'm in my tenth year through the trauma of COVID.

I'm still there.

Through changing sequence of events.

I'm still there.

And so I say thank you all and thank God for the opportunity.

I'm humbled beyond measure to be there in black excellence along with all of you.

Good evening, everyone.

I'm Eunice Lafayette, the owner of La Fate Gallery Vision Center, located at 227 North Market Street in Wilmington, Delaware.

And La Faith, that's a French name, bonjour, or two.

I am not French, I'm a Jamaican.

I've lived here for the last 43 years, and my business has been open for the last 10 years.

So that has been just more than a miracle.

I want to thank City Council, President Trippet Congo.

Two thanks for this recognition, and thank you for extending funds for Jamaica for the brutal hurricane Jamaica face back in October.

Want to thank you for that.

I want to thank all the people who have supported La Faith Gallery.

Takes a village to raise a child, takes a village to grow a business.

How about that?

So thank you all very much.

Hi, good evening.

We are opening at 201 North Market Street, hopefully pretty soon.

We are Carl Oberfork uh restaurant and bar, and we would like to thank the city of Wilmington for acknowledging us.

Thank you.

Good evening, everyone.

Um I'm Andre Wright, and I'm from Midnight Flavor.

Um, it's an honor to be in Wilmington.

Uh, this is my fourth restaurant.

I opened in COVID, but the love that I get from this town and from y'all, I just appreciate it so much.

And I'm just here to just give love, give support, and give unity.

And I just got to come on down and get a little bit of our loving.

Thank y'all.

Thank you.

Uh good evening.

I'm Cheryl Mack, and this is my husband Christopher Mack.

We're the owners of the Bridge Art Gallery at 213 North Market Street.

Um, I want to thank our council person, Councilwoman Harley, and thank you, President Umcongo, for this recognition.

Uh, we are celebrating our first year here in Wilmington and our tenth year um of the Bridge Art Gallery on this Saturday.

So if you want to stop by to celebrate with us from 2 to 5, and I'm thrilled to be a part of what we call Black Market Street.

Our 200 uh block is all of our business owners that you've heard from.

Um so come down on Saturday and just walk Black Market Street and support the businesses on our block.

Hello.

Um I'm Olivia McClintock.

I'm the owner of Town and Shore Handcrafted, located at 221 North Market Street in Luma.

And um I would like to give a deep, deep thanks to uh Councilwoman Michelle Harley and President Trip Condigo for this honor uh and this opportunity.

Uh my business uh started as an online business, and I decided to come to Wilmington against my lawyer's instructions who suggested that I move my business to Greenville.

And I told him, well, all the exciting things are happening in Wilmington, and so that's where we need to be.

And I am glad to say after five years of um my store being here that I still feel that way and hope to continue to see artisan like myself um that make handmade leather goods have a place to thrive and continue to get the support that you guys offer.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Um my name's Wayne Pennington.

Congo and Councilwoman Harley, who has always supported us.

So I represent WJVS Radio.

We are a digital broadband radio.

We have an app.

We have dot com.

We have we've got Alexa.

So if you want to hear some old school, that's what we play.

Most of our our uh music is 80% old school.

We play a little new school, but keep it in mind, WJVS Radio, and uh we've been here uh November May four years.

So we're out here.

We hope to get your ears checking us out.

So while you're supporting all the other black businesses, please listen to some good music and support us.

But thank you.

Thank you.

Hi everybody, I am Michelle Gregory.

This is my husband Josh Gregory, and we are co-owner operators of Sidar Cafe, located right around the corner on 919 North Market Street.

Um, I'm honored, and I just want to say thank you so much to Wilmington City Council, um, Mr.

Congo.

Thank you so much, Councilwoman uh Harley, Tish Davis.

You have been just a blessing to us.

Kobe, one of our regulars, the barbecue melts and all that good stuff.

Um I can't words can't even express how you know and you send you.

I'm sorry, I see you back there.

Josh will never want to talk.

I'm not gonna make this short and sweet.

Thank you.

We are grateful, we are honored.

Um my god.

I'm gonna uh because we're gonna open before calls from Russell Technically, we're the only two on that street.

We can go what I want to do.

Please excuse my husband, he was raised by wolves.

I do apologize.

Um and this is really us, this is not an act.

Come and see us.

Um yeah, we have great food, great vibes, great love.

Um, we just want to spread love and happiness and yeah.

Sometimes we find it.

I'm gonna kill you and drink your blood.

Um, thank you.

Thank you, and come come see us sometime.

Hello everyone, my name is Linaya.

I am the owner of Too Much Showroom down at uh 207 North Market Street.

Um, first of all, thank you, City Council, for the acknowledgement.

I really appreciate it.

I've been located there for three years now, and when I had the dream of opening my own clothing store, I always wanted it to be back home where I'm from.

Um, I've been doing fashion and designing since I was 16 years old.

I am now 29, so I can finally say I'm living in my dream.

So again, I appreciate the acknowledgement, and I wouldn't have done it anywhere else.

Okay, thank you.

Good afternoon, everybody.

I was trying to escape talking because I like to cook and be behind the kitchen.

But uh, welcome everybody and thank you.

Um, we are deeply honored and sincerely grateful to President Congo, City Council, and the city of Wilmington as a whole.

Um, to be acknowledged during Black History Month means something powerful to us.

We understand that none of us stay here alone.

We stand on the shoulders of those who built opportunity where there was once limitation.

O34 is not one person's vision, it is about our staff who show up every day with excellence.

It is our guests who choose to support local and our family that continue to pray for us.

It is our community who believed in North Market Street, and we are simply stewards of something bigger.

O34 was built on principles.

Loved our neighbor, don't look down on anybody, and reach up, reach above ourselves to pull people up.

That means creating a space where people feel seen, valued, and welcomed.

And in March, we will officially open our doors for what we're calling a love day, a celebration of the community, gratitude, and the people that made this possible, not just for opening, but for a moment in Wilmington.

This recognition is not the finish line for us or the beginning.

It's just a reminder of our responsibility to serve better, to lead stronger, and to pour back into our city.

We are grateful and we're just getting started.

Thank you, Trippy.

And everybody in Wilmington.

All right, let's give them all another round of applause as they come up front.

We're gonna ask everyone to come up front to get your photo.

We're just gonna ask if you want your photo taken.

We're gonna take a group uh picture up front, real quick.

Everybody, real quick.

Yes, up front, in front of uh President Congo.

Is that okay, President?

Okay.

Yes.

So we're gonna get the owners up front and then we'll ask the council members to come up.

Y'all gotta come in closer, probably.

You point to okay, all right.

Say Twitter.

Okay.

Right here.

Three, two, one.

All right, thank you.

That's her, huh?

No, my name is I'd like to recognize Councilmember Darby.

It's ridiculous.

Stupid.

In the way of other recognition, uh, Councilmember Oliver.

On his retirement.

In the way of sympathy resolutions from all council, Adrian Morales Lebron, but on Councilmember Kabara, Sympathy Resolutions for May Miller and James Nathaniel Bell from Councilmember Oliver.

Sympathy resolutions for Michael Sheridan Washam, David Swazi, Wave, Sean Brady, from Councilmember Owens, Sympathy Resolution for John William Armstrong the third from Council Member Spadola, a sympathy resolution for Christopher Nicholas Scrobot and from Councilmember Wallower, a sympathy resolution for Alvin B.

Moore.

The second at this time we will move to public comment.

If you're in council chambers, please watch your step once you reach the podium.

Anyone who is virtual, again, we will call your name when it is your opportunity to speak.

But please remember to introduce yourself.

But if you do represent a district or live in a district, you can you can say that.

Please try to keep your public comment within three minutes.

Once you have around 30 seconds left, I will give you a friendly reminder.

First, we have Deacon Earl Tate.

Thank you for joining us.

Greetings.

My name is digging Earl E.

Tate, who's never late, because he don't want to lose a pair of roller skates.

And I'm here, and I'm here to say, I hope hope you all have been enjoying, been enjoying the Black History Month.

Because we have we have we have a lot to do.

All of us.

All of us have a lot to do with with making with making the United States what it is now.

We we're all we all are here representing all of us.

All of us that that have that have been that have been here, our folks, our parents, our grandparents, our great-grandparents, and all have participated in making and making the United States what it is today.

And that's why I say this is the year when we when we have the middle election and we got to get off our seats.

Each and every one of us got to get off our seats and got to get out there and vote.

Because if you don't vote, you don't have no say so in what goes on here.

We have to get out and vote, and we got to show our young folks as well as us that we gotta get out here and vote.

And we got and we got to do, we got to do the right things.

So that's how come I say, get up off your seat and get out here and vote, every one of you, because when you get out here and vote, it makes it make not only you feel good, but but but it makes you but it makes you feel feel like you're doing something, and we are so so let's so let's just show that this here this here president that we got an office that that we are.

We we are all of us, all of us is what is what makes America what it is, and that's that's why I say I say like I say in my poem, think he who thinketh negatively had the feet of himself even before he begun.

But he who think it positively with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding can claim the victory by faith, and it's all setting forth new goals and climbing higher heights that life holds no limit to it.

So get out here and do it, think positive and be positive and set forth a good positive example.

Amen.

Amen.

And and enjoy yourself this year.

Let us make this year 30 seconds yet.

Thank you.

And because we do have so many who signed up for public comment, we're going to alternate between those of you who are in council chambers and everyone who was with us virtually.

So our first virtual public comment will come from Larry Glacino.

Larry Glacino.

I apologize.

Apologize if I mispronouncing your last name.

Please raise your hand if you are still virtual with us virtually.

Larry Glacino.

You in Council Chambers.

Rob Savaris is with us in Council Chambers, WITN.

Thank you for joining us, and please remember to introduce yourself.

Please watch your step once you reach the podium.

Honorable council members.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to um speak here this evening.

Uh, thank you for listening.

Thank you for your service to the community.

My name is Rob Savaris.

I was born in 1965 in New York.

I moved to Delaware in 1998.

I thought the days of prejudice and discrimination were long gone, but here we are today in the midst of it.

Councilmember Darby's resolution is not about a statue.

It is a closed-minded resolution about hate and bias.

It is an assault on Italian American heritage and culture.

It is a resolution in opposition to Italian Americans.

It is a resolution to stomp on Italian Americans like the lynching of 11 innocent Italian Americans in New Orleans on March 14th, 1891.

At a time in our nation's history, as we approach our 250-year anniversary when the majority of Americans are standing up for peace, progress, healing, equality, justice, free speech, and democracy.

Councilmember Darby is spreading hate speech.

Hate against Italian Americans who live and work in Wilmington.

Councilmember Darby's resolution is a misguided path to regression, division, and turpitude.

Just one moment, please, sir.

WITN, please pause his time, his speaking time.

I'm just going to ask everyone, and including you sorry to please not address any council members directly.

I I apologize.

Thank you so much.

A vote in favor of resolution 0184 is a vote in favor of erasing centuries of American history, and it sets a dangerous precedent for cancellation of other cultural icons in America's proud history.

Ask yourself, how would you feel if a council member presented false toxic narratives designed to malign MLK's character and campaigned against the legacy, campaign to erase his legacy?

You have 30 seconds.

Vote with your heart.

Vote for unity, vote for pride, vote for healing, vote for justice, vote to preserve and protect Italian American heritage in Wilmington.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, virtually we have Nancy Deniso.

Nancy Deniso.

Okay, here.

You can come forward, please.

Thank you for joining us.

Also, if Anna Halligan is with us in Council Chambers.

Anna Halligan or Meme Sabelis.

Sabulis.

Lydia Konstanasky.

Oh, I'm sorry, they were virtual.

One second, please.

If um Jared Gerard.

Last name begins with a D.

If you're with if you can come stand up, say you can be next, please.

You can come stand right next to the TV monitor.

Thank you for joining us.

You may you may begin.

Please introduce yourself.

Uh good evening, members of City Council.

My name is Nancy Denisio.

I live in the 7th District of Wilmington, and I'm a lifelong resident of Wilmington.

My husband, who's here with me, is also a lifelong resident of Wilmington, and he served the city as a firefighter for 32 years.

We're both here this evening to ask you to vote no on resolution 0184.

The resolution begins with this statement.

Let me repeat that one part to have an overdue discussion.

And yet this resolution is not about having a conversation.

This resolution is about shutting a conversation down.

Every council member was invited to such a discussion on Tuesday evening, and it was a great evening.

People came to support having the Statue of Christopher Columbus put up.

They shared facts.

And there was no one there opposing it.

But we were open to hearing any other voices, voices of opposition.

We wanted a civil debate.

No one showed up to speak against it.

That's fine.

But we do want conversation.

History as it relates to Christopher Columbus has been skewed to fit the narrative of some.

And while this is not the time or the place tonight to debate that, I urge you to seek out the whole truth, be willing to sit and have an intelligent and informed conversation.

To me, Christopher Columbus was an imperfect man with an indomitable spirit who charted the course connecting two great continents, paving the way for others to follow.

A man who must be assessed by 15th century norms.

He is the man that the early Italian Americans chose to represent their experience, their culture, their pride, and their contributions to this great country.

As a lifelong resident of Wilmington and a proud American of Italian descent, I want to see the statue of Christopher Columbus returned to its rightful place on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Or as an alternative for whatever reason that can't be done, place in Father Tucker Park.

So again, I urge you to please vote no on Resolution 0184.

Let's have a considerate civil and a fact-based dialogue before any such resolution should be voted on.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next virtually we have Anna Halligan.

WI 10 is Anna Halligan still with us.

Anna Halligan, if you are still with us virtually, please raise your hand.

And while we're waiting for Anna Halligan, I'd like to make a motion to extend public comment past 7 30.

Second.

Second.

It's been properly moved and second.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried.

Anna Halligan.

Okay.

We will go to our next public speaker who was with us in Council Chambers.

Sir.

Thank you for joining us.

Please remember to introduce yourself and please watch your step once you reach the podium.

Good evening, uh, Mr.

President and distinguished members of uh City Council.

Um it's a privilege and an honor to be here before you speaking tonight.

And I say that uh truthfully uh because if I didn't address you all that way, my father's heavenly foot would be somewhere where I didn't like it in my body.

My father served this body for 30 years.

He worked in licenses and inspections.

I knew your grandpa, I knew many members that sat here for this council, but I don't know if I'm here for Christopher Columbus or I will or for my father.

My name is Jerry Delaterio, and I was born and raised out on the west side, I believe uh Councilman Johnson's district, uh on a street, two blocks, five to six hundred blocks of Robin Street, Goat City.

Uh there were Irish boys, there were Italian boys, and there were black boys.

There were probably 90 of us.

We all played together, we ate together, we fought together, we called each mothers, each other's mothers, yes, ma'am.

That's that's where I grew up in the city.

Um my dad, you they were talking about Black History Month.

My father taught me when I was 12 years old.

Dad, what did you do in the service?

He says, My only claim to fame was that I fed the Tuskegee Airmen, the 99th Fighter Squadron.

I'm sure you all know who who they are.

I learned those things.

So that's that's how I grew up.

So I just wanted to let you know that.

I'm here tonight in support of uh the statue uh being uh placed back up, if not the the rightfully placed on Pennsylvania Avenue, uh maybe in Father Tucker Park.

My father was a city employee dedicated to this town for 30 years, and myself and my two surviving brothers feel the same way.

We love the city of Wilmington.

Although we all live outside in the suburbs now, we still enjoy City Fest and coming back in town, mostly to eat.

Um my father also served on the Columbus Monument Committee for many years, 25 years, and it was in his heart.

He would go out 35 years ago, and he would shut down Pennsylvania Avenue.

He would have public works come out, they would have a reflaying on Columbus Day, they'd have then Senator Joseph Biden come, they'd have Representative Herman Holloway come, Herman Holloway Sr.

I'm sure you know that you recognize that name.

Uh people like at the time, Councilman Jim Baker, they uh they would support that, you know.

And we were raised in 30 seconds.

Columbus was for the Italian people, um, a sign of hope.

Um I never agreed with slavery later in life.

These stories came out about him that I totally disagree with, and I'm not for.

But and maybe if his statue is re-erected, that should be noted.

But uh I think it's part of Italian history, Italian American history, and it should it should be resurrected or or re-erected.

Thank you all very much.

Thank you.

Appreciate your time.

Next virtually we have um Mimi or Mimi Sabulis.

Sibulis.

If you're with us still virtually, please raise your hand.

Mimi Hello.

Yes, thank you for joining us, and please introduce yourself.

Hello, my name's Mimi Sebelis, and I'm an American of Italian descent and a Wilmington resident, and I support Councilwoman Darby's resolution against the reinstallation of the Christopher Columbus statue.

A statue is an endorsement, and Christopher Columbus is not someone Wilmington should ever endorse.

His original 1492 journal was is lost, but an abstract preserved by Bartolome uh de las Casas remains.

And I'd like to mention some of those excerpts.

I took some of the natives by force, and that the people he met would make fine servants, adding with 50 men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.

Las Casas also wrote that Spanish men took indigenous women and girls by force as spoils of conquest.

Well, let's say you dismiss all of Las Casas' writing.

You don't agree with it.

You're a reader of Italian American magazine.

Fine.

Let's not look at any of his writings.

Columbus's friend and associate, Michele de la Um Cuneo, wrote a letter that Columbus gave him, a captured indigenous woman, and he described beating her and raping her after she resisted him.

That's his own account.

Columbus's rule was so abusive that royal investigator Francisco de Babadilla arrested him and sent him back to Spain in chains.

Testimony gathered at the time described floggings, mutilations, uh, people kept in irons and executions without Spanish due process, affecting not just indigenous people, but Spanish settlers there.

One witness even testified that a woman who spoke ill of Columbus had her tongue cut out.

These are letters, royal investigations, and administrative record records, contemporary documents, not myth.

If you want to keep the statue for history, great, put it in a museum.

But on a pedestal out in public is for honor.

If you truly want to honor Italian heritage, there are so many better choices.

Why are we dying on this hill?

Leonardo da Vinci, a genius who shaped art and science, Galileo Galilei, who helped us understand the universe.

Um Mother Cabrini, she served immigrant communities in the U.S.

Um Rita Um Levy Montalcini, uh, a scientist who won the Nobel Prize, Maria Montessori, who revolutionized education, Italian heritage is art, science, courage, intellect, community, not conquest.

I'm not asking anyone to erase history, I'm asking the city not to endorse a person whose record includes enslavement and sexual violence.

So that earlier comparison, MLK's legacy is rooted in justice and human rights, so that doesn't hold.

Thank you.

Next virtually we have uh Al Greto.

Not virtually, but in Council Chambers, thank you for joining us.

And please watch your step once you reach the podium, and please remember to introduce yourself.

And next virtually, we're going to have Lydia Konstaneski.

Thank you.

If you can please raise your hand if you're with us virtually still, Lydia Constananski.

May it please the counsel.

Uh my name is Albert M.

Greto, G R E T O.

I'm a lawyer in Wilmington.

I have a uh office over by Libby's.

Should be noted that when after Columbus was indicted and taken back to see Ferdinand and Isabella in answer to the charges, he was acquitted.

He was restored his title.

He was given back his property.

And Bobby D was called back to them, but his vote didn't make it.

And so we don't we don't know how that trial would have played out.

I think that Columbus can be attributed to slavery.

I think there's no dispute in that.

The genocide, I uh the natives died from uh disease and whatnot.

And be that as it may, there's good and bad in everyone.

I mean King David set up his his uh warrior Uriah and had his line fall back so that Uriah got killed so David could have his wife.

I mean, there's good and bad in everyone.

You got to take the good with the bad, you focus on the good, and you try to try to stay away from the bad.

But what I know is, and what I've handed out to everybody, and I have packets, I have packets for each and every member of council, and I have an extra packet to make a part of the record that from 1907 to 1957, there's a bunch of great Wilmingtonians and Delawareans that put a lot of time and a lot of energy into the into the plaza and into the statue and getting it here, and from 1907 to 2019, every year.

Go to mass, process over to the plaza, process from the plaza to Ursal and have have a luncheon, break bread with each other, celebrate our heritage, dignitaries, politicians, great businessmen, the men that built this city, right?

De Sabatino, Deladon, the the name the names are there's too many names to name.

Barbieri, Fortunata, Consiglio, Arrigo, Corletto, Ciadi, Antonelli.

I provided everybody with the 1957 program.

I have it again today.

There's a markup from uh an older gentleman who's still with us, who who put context to the to the many names in the book for the for the younger generations that don't know it.

The Italians came here, and from 1907 to 1957, they were discriminated against during the war during the war.

There were internment cans for Italians, and then and they still embrace the country looking for something better, and this is how we celebrate it, and we and we want it back.

We won our statue, and we want the city to give our statue to us now while they're figuring out whether the public property is all right, and if it's not going to be right, we'll put it on private property.

But we want our statue back.

Please give us our statue back.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

You can come and just kind of see sit right behind.

Hello.

Yes, thank you for joining us.

Please introduce yourself.

Yeah, the regional program.

It's got the transcripts from the Lydia Konstananski.

Do you want to hello?

Yes, we can hear you.

You may you may begin.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council members.

Um, I have a letter to read from a friend who is unable to make it tonight.

Um, I'm from um district six, as is my friend.

Um, on a personal note, I was relieved and delighted when the statute came down in 2020.

Um my children pass the both statues on their bus route every day.

Um, and I want to say that um size and placement confer importance, and I want to emphasize the values that we want to carry forward in our wonderful city by leaving this statue in the past.

Um this is from my friend Um to the Wilmington City Council.

Statues of historical figures on public grounds are not neutral objects.

The choice of who to honor and memorialize in this way has always been a reflection of what values a society holds and aspires to.

In this case, Christopher Columbus is well known and well documented to have been a cruel man who fostered policies of violence toward indigenous populations in general and women in particular.

He was known, criticized, and punished by his contemporaries for his cruelty and violence, and his peep policies helped shape and define centuries of incalculable harm to millions upon millions of people.

We are still living in the shadow of his evil choices every day.

There are countless ways to preserve history, such as by supporting and funding libraries and museums, education, and teaching.

Among these options, a statue in my public park is not a particularly effective method of learning about history.

It is a much greater method of learning about the character of the society that placed it there.

As a resident of Wilmington, I urge us to aspire to be greater, kinder, more caring than our past.

I understand the desire to place a statue of Columbus in the name of virtues such as boldness and curiosity.

I urge us to honor these virtues instead by setting out to explore a new world together to discover a land characterized by compassion rather than conquest.

Thank you, Stephen Jackson.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next virtual speaker after our in chamber speaker will be Julian Strickland.

So Julian Strickland, if you are still with us, please raise your hand so W I T N can recognize you, but next we have Dominic Albano.

Thank you for joining us, and please remember to introduce yourself.

Yes.

Good evening.

My name is Dominic Albano.

I was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware.

I still live in the city with my grandson who I am raising.

I want to thank each of you for this opportunity to share a story within the story of this evening's topic from my vantage point.

October 12th, 1957.

Although most of us here tonight are not related by blood.

What does unite our souls and our spirits are relatable traits that distinguish and define common connections to one's heritage, to one's traditions, to one's culture, to one's customs, to one's ancestry that are familiar to all, be it white, black, Hispanic, Jewish, Asian, Hindu, indigenous people, etc.

I'd like to share some perspectives that many, if not all of you, aren't aware of regarding Thursday, October 12th, 1957.

A crowd had gathered on a small island of ground on Pennsylvania Avenue, across from Ursuline Academy.

In the crowd was a back in the day Italian grandmother and her four-year-old grandson, anxiously awaiting the ceremonies to begin.

Situated between the tall flags displaying the American flag and the Italian flag was a stone foundation upon which a drape-covered statue stood.

As the dignitaries concluded their dedications, the drape was pulled away, and an impressive statue of Christopher of Columbus was displayed.

Everyone in the crowd applauded.

The Italian grandmother was smiling and nodding her approval.

She was full of pride to be an Italian American, attending this commemoration 465 years after Columbus set sail from Spain.

Similarly, this Italian woman's family also set sail on a long, frightening journey to America via boat.

Like so many others in search of a new life, a new opportunity.

Besides not being able to speak the language or knowing anything about this new country, there were other looming hardships they were not prepared for that followed the purchase of their passage to America.

Unbeknownst to them, they were setting setting sail for South America.

They were lied to and cheated out of their dreams.

Instead of the streets being lined with gold like the tales they were told, there were fields of coffee beans lining Brazilian coffee plantations, awaiting their arrival for them to labor long hours and face excrudiate excruciating conditions.

The stories of how they managed to finally make it to New York, Philadelphia, and Delaware, and how long it took are like dust in the wind.

But on that day, October 12th, 1957, the sacrifices, the hardships, the injustices, the pain and suffering they endured for so many years were replaced with smile with smiles, happiness, and excitement.

The United States of America was the birthplace she would raise her family.

Fast forward 63 years to Friday, June 12th, 2020.

Please begin to wrap up your comments.

That four-year-old child child is now a grandfather driving his nine-year-old grandson on Pennsylvania Avenue towards Wilmington.

Traffic has slowed to a stop.

The United States of America is under attack.

Our core principles that our ancestors fought for, sacrificed for, and passed down to us are in jeopardy are in jeopardy for the next generations.

God, family, country, stand for the flag, kneel for the cross.

So please if we don't rise up in unison for the statue to represent our heritage.

Well, what can we expect from those that follow if we haven't left our any our footprints?

Thank you.

Thank you.

WITN is Julian Strickland with us.

Julian Strickland, if you're still with us virtually, please raise your hand.

Julian Strickland.

Also going to ask Rita.

If Rita is still with us, is with us, please come forward.

Also Nancy.

If you're still here.

Thank you for joining us.

You may you may begin, please remember to introduce yourself.

My name is Rita Carnavalli.

I live and own a small business here in the city of Wilmington in the 7th district.

I'm gonna be really short.

Uh based on a federal census that was taken back in 1830.

Approximately 3,007 five free black people owned slaves in the United States.

These owners held between 12,000 and 20,000 slaves, largely concentrated in Louisiana, South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.

1830 was 330 years after Columbus discovered America.

Thank you.

Nancy last name begins with a D.

If you share this book.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Next we have Ruth James.

And if uh Baba Hamine can please come forward.

Thank you for joining us.

Please remember to introduce yourself.

Ruth Ann Purchase James.

Kike U Yaminan Khake Willan Kuntuakan Himta Munanak.

These are the words of William Penn, translated into the Lenape language, wishing that we might live together in peace and friendship.

These were the lower three counties of Pennsylvania, dedicated to the freedom of religion and to the building of friendship with all people, as all life is sacred.

For this reason, I come to you, and I ask you to pause.

Wilmington is an amazing city, full of rivers that have been here 300, 400, 500 million years with living beings, honoring all life.

And if we, as the small humans in this place, stewarding these ancient rivers, could stop long enough to recognize we depend on all living things.

We depend on our rivers.

We depend on our trees for the air we breathe.

These are the teachings of the Lenape.

And for that reason, they were punished.

So I ask you tonight to take the long view to consider all the residents of this beautiful, beautiful place that has been called Lenape Hooking for over 25,000 years, as far as we know.

This place has welcomed many human beings of many languages, of many varieties, many migrating animals of all sorts, many sturgeon, ancient ancient ancestors coming up the rivers to their ancient breeding grounds to celebrate the glory of all creation and the creator.

These are the teachings of the Lenape that have been erased.

And with me, consult with amazing people here in Wilmington, like the Delaware Art Museum, like the people who come from Winter.

They come here to Wilmington to help us with our public statues, with our public art, to teach the local residents to steward our own hearts.

And I ask you to consult with these people and to consult with conflict transformationists, because they are among us.

We know how to come together.

Could we please come together and look at all the amazing stories and choose well how many statues of human white men we erect?

One is she.

Thank you.

Next in Council Chambers, we have Baba Hameen.

And our final speaker will be Anthony.

Okay, if you can come forward, please.

Honorable council.

Thanks, Tipper Trippie, and uh the hard working council members, and to my neighbors.

This is um I'm not, you know, I got this last minute.

Please introduce you heard about it.

Please introduce yourself.

Please introduce yourself.

Please state your name.

My name is Baba Hamen.

Thank you.

Um I'm entrepreneur.

You know, I retired from Night Street.

I'm an educator of our children.

As an educator of our children, one of the biggest beefs I have is our children go to school and they don't get the truth.

They don't learn history as it really is.

Now I've been on this journey for like 30 years, 40 years, to teach children the truth so they understand their history.

And I'm sitting here listening to all the speakers speak with passion.

And um for those of Italian descent, I feel you.

And I'm looking at my elders uh peers.

I'm pushing 80, you know, and so I know the deal.

When you hold on to uh uh a thought, a belief for years and years and years, it's hard to for somebody to come up and say that's not true.

It would be very offensive if I was of German descent, and I want to see a statue of Hitler, because I'm a German of a German descent.

Never mind what he did, or better yet, make it more relevant.

Say if I was of Italian descent and I want to bring up a statue because we're related, Mussolini.

Never mind the atrocities that these people might have done, but we're related to them.

So this is a very difficult situation.

Because on one side is people who have pride in their history, and then on the other side, it's a slap in the face.

And so when our children, when they learn history from me, I tell them the truth.

Columbus, quarter million natives slaughtered, come on, rape, every kind of disgusting thing that could happen, happen.

Do on his watch, and he is his engagement of it, his support of it, slavery.

The harshest, the most brutal way that he's slavery.

Christopher Columbus did that to my ancestors.

And as a Lenape sister was speaking on it, my answers, ancestors speak to me too.

And in my heart, I know it's very difficult for me to say, okay, um, it's okay, it's in history, that's in the past.

But right now, you're you're some Italians are some beautiful people.

One of my best friends is I've been in Delaware is Bernie.

Please please begin to wrap up your comments, sir.

So, you know, I feel you, but you have to recognize the youth, the young people coming up.

How we not I'm not the youth, but how people feel about something in their face all the time, and you support it.

They don't know the passion that you have, they just know that it's an insult.

It's an outright money.

Sir, please wrap up your comments.

A statue of the most horrible person in history.

Now that's hard for y'all to step.

So please wrap up your comments.

Thank you.

And I'm gonna leave it like it is, and hopefully, we that can be some dialogue.

Just don't use public money to do this.

Now people want to donate.

Sir, sir.

Please please wrap up your comments.

Thank you, sir.

Support donations to put it on private property.

Thank you.

If you if you put it on public property, sir, I guarantee you it's gonna be a backlash that you're not ready for.

Okay, sir.

Please wrap up your comments.

Thank you.

And our final public speaker will be Anthony Fletcher.

I'm gonna ask you, please to respect the three minute time frame, Mr.

Fletcher, as you come forward and please remember to introduce yourself.

Yeah, I'll be brief.

Thank you.

I appreciate it.

Name's Anthony Fletcher, native woman Tony, and I grew up here in Wilmington.

I went to George Gray when it was the elementary school, went to P.S.

when it was a high school.

And we had social study class.

And it's social studies class in the books.

It was written.

Christopher Columbus discovered America.

Okay, and then you see the Western movies where they say how the West was one.

Okay.

And that's in you, and you believe it, and you're living with it and you're thriving with it, and then you become an adult.

And then you see, wait a minute.

The West wasn't one.

The West was they stole it.

Okay.

And then you say Christopher Columbus, wait, he's discovered America.

Wait a minute.

Um there wasn't nobody.

It was empty.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

It's about truth.

And in this day and age, you gotta look at look what's happening in the world.

There's clarity.

You got the internet, all this information is coming up, and our youth need the truth.

So you can't say Santa Claus bought your gift when mommy bought it.

You know, that's not working anymore.

Okay.

So granted, you know, Christopher Columbus, not on public land, private it's history deserve to be in a museum.

Okay.

And I'll I'll tell you this.

Uh on my way over here, I rode past uh Shop Right.

I discovered ShopRight.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

I want to thank everyone who joined us for public comment this evening.

As always, you you are welcome to get public comment at any of our meetings on the first and third Thursday, and also our committee meetings throughout the month.

At this time, we are going to go to legislative business, Councilmember Owens.

Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present.

Resolution 26-011, agenda number 0181.

Whereas House Substitute 1 for House Bill 94, HS1 for HB 94, and Act Amending Title St.

I move that this resolution be received, recorded, and filed and adopted by YayNay vote.

Second.

It's been properly moved and second.

The resolution be received, recorded, filed, and adopted by Year and A vote on the question.

Yes.

Um this is a resolution in support of House Substitute 1 to HB 94.

Um again, this is uh H how substitute one for HB 94 is a piece of legislation that will require certain guidelines around um local entities cooperating with ICE in areas in which ICE cannot operate in without prior uh knowledge of our attorney general who's Kathy Jennings right now.

These places that would be off limits without her uh knowledge is any um access to child serving entities, places of worship and health care facilities.

Um and again, this is um just a resolution in support of this.

Uh the representative is from Dover, uh Sean Lynn is the prime sponsor of this councilmember Darby.

Yes, I would love to be added as a co-sponsor to support this down at the General Assembly.

Thank you, Councilmember Willower.

And seeing no other hands raised Councilmember Willower, please turn on your mic, your microphone.

All right, thank you.

Clerk, please call for the roll.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Darby.

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver.

Yes.

Councilwoman Harley.

Councilwoman Willower.

Yes.

Councilwoman.

Councilman Johnson.

Yes.

Councilman Field.

Yes.

Councilwoman Bracey.

Yes.

Councilman Hackett.

Yes.

Councilman Spadola.

President Congo.

Yes.

Ten years and three absent.

Declared adopted.

Council President, I'm gonna hold uh 0185.

Okay.

All right.

I'm sorry.

Uh uh revise uh number one to zero uh one eight two.

Sorry.

Okay.

And I'm also gonna hold um revision one to zero one eight three as well, too.

There was supposed to be a third resolution with that, so I'm gonna do them all together.

Okay, thank you.

Any more any more legislation, Councilmember?

No, that's it.

Okay, thank you, Councilmember Darby.

Yes, um, I would like to present a resolution.

I have a lot of papers here.

Um, Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present okay.

Resolution 26-012, agenda number 0184, whereas the city of Wilmington is committed to fostering a community rooted in inclusion, equity, and respect for the dignity and history of our people.

The city of Wilmington removes that move this resolution be received, recorded, and filed and adopted by a yay and they vote.

Second, it's been properly moved and second the resolution to be received, recorded, filed, and adopted by Yay or NA vote.

Yes, so this piece of legislation is addressing um specifically Christopher Columbus statue um being placed on a public tax paying location, which is Father Tucker Park site.

Um so I am in support of it going on to a private location.

I contacted a local parish, Italian American parish, um Catholic church to see if they were interested in the statue.

They actually didn't want to have any parts of this conversation.

Um so um I'm willing to help the group find a private location where this statue could go.

Um also um this piece of legislation is just saying that Christopher Columbus is um a person, the father of genocide, the father of so many atrocities.

He has harmed so many different communities from indigenous to African American to Caribbean, uh, globally.

He has made an impact that has been harmful and that a lot of communities feel to this day.

He should not be honored on any tax paying dollar, especially in a predominantly black and brown city.

Um, I think that asking for this to be put up is actually a slap in the face and disrespectful to black Americans, specifically black Americ Americans who are descendants of enslaved um African people in this country.

Um, I think it's time for that this our community to stand up when these things happen.

There are no other communities who experience such trauma that this would be even proposed to them in any way.

Um, so this piece of legislation is making it very clear that on public space we reflect truth, accountability, and shared humanity.

We do not display things that represent um what Christopher Columbus represents on a global scale in regards to the harm that he has caused, the the evil things that he has done, and the impacts that we feel today.

Um so I am in support of uh the group finding a private location.

I'm in support of the administration returning the statue to this organization.

I think that should happen immediately.

Um I will put up a resolution to help with that.

Um, but outside of that, I will not have my taxpaying dollars, especially in a majority black and brown city pay for um this person, this terrible person to be displayed in my in the city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Johnson.

So it's a council member that represents the Italian community, the center of the Italian American community in the city, and actually probably the state.

Um I, in direct opposition to this.

I listen to my community um and have those conversations about what Columbus means.

It's more than just who he is a person, it's who he is in Italian history.

He was their first explorer.

He was very problematic.

You know, history has showed us that.

But he means a lot to their community.

And what I'm for is representing all viewpoints in Wilmington.

We have a president who just tried to bland ban um slavery monuments and constitutional hall.

So who are we to censor what happens?

We have a president doing the same thing to us.

How we feel if 20, 30 years from now, someone said Lewis Redding comes down, Leonard Williams comes down.

I look at it as someone who is a direct descendant of enslaved Africans as well.

That we should respect all viewpoints.

It means a lot to the Talian community.

That's the thing that means a lot to me.

Personally, I don't think he was a great, great person, but I have to put that aside, and as I represent them, I have to represent their voice, that they have a right to be heard.

Maybe it should go up with something like the gentleman said, inscribing the true history, you know, having counterbalance, explaining the true history of what he means.

That's what means a lot to me.

That Wilmington's a diverse city.

We represent just we did we talked about black restaurants, but we support the black community.

We have a Hispanic community, we have an Asian community.

Everyone should be respected.

So I'm not a supporter of Columbus, but I'm a supporter of Italian American community.

If it's important to them, it's important to me.

So I think you know, I never even thought about the statute, um, honestly, until it became a subject of attention, just like Caesar Rodney.

I mean, where does this stop?

Um, Caesar Rodney, you do you rename the school district?

Jefferson, do you rename colleges?

Washiton, do you rename colleges?

We could go down the list of America's sorted history of slavery.

It's it's it's it's something.

But where you should learn about it, and the truth should be on that inscription about Columbus to say he meant a lot to Italians, and he's a man of Italian scent, but he was very wrong.

But this here's the right information.

That's what I think Wilmington should be as a place to be somebody.

Italian brothers and sisters are very important to us, and I support them, and I believe we should all vote no on this and support diversity in the city.

Councilman Johnson, do you have a letter that you want read?

Uh yes, I do have a letter.

Um this is just uh from the uh it's actually uh the petition to return Christopher Columbus statute to display.

So I don't know, Ikea if you read it or should I just read into the record or you?

Okay, if you could read into record, that's worked.

Dear Mr.

Johnson, thank you for attending our neighborhood open house last night.

As you know, I represent the Christopher Columbus Monument Committee, St.

Anthony's Lodge 30 3012 of the Sons and Daughters of Italy, the Society Da Vinci Inc.

and various individuals in and about the city, including and in particular several individuals in Little Italy, Wilmington, Delaware.

Included with the correspondence, please find petitions to place the Christopher Columbus statue on public display.

Please note that the Italian American American community prefers that the statute be returned to its original location, but presents the signed petitions to install the Christopher Columbus statue at Father Tucker Park as an alternative.

Succinctly stated, the Italian American community wants to continue celebrating Columbus Day as it has for more than a century by attending mass, processing to the Christopher Columbus statue, processing from the statue to the luncheon historically at Ursulin to enjoy great food, company, and community.

I previously provided you and all other councilpersons with a copy of the inaugural program.

Historically, many great Wilmingtonians and Delawareans attended this event.

We hope to continue this tradition.

They started in 1907.

Lastly, please note that I had the presentation and public comments of the neighborhood open house transcribed.

I hope to be given the opportunity to present that transcription and additional materials to the council tomorrow night at the meeting.

I will provide you all the materials electronically upon receipt, and we'll also bring copies for each councilperson tomorrow night.

If you or anyone else have any questions or concerns, I am ready to address them.

I thank you for all you have done and continue to do in your representation of the Italian American community and Little Italy, Wilmington.

Very truly yours, Albert M.

Gretto.

Thank you.

Councilmember Field.

I can't think of anything to add because he was so eloquent and comprehensive in his comments, and I am with him 100% and strongly oppose this resolution.

Thank you.

Councilmember Harley, did you have your hand erased?

I did have my own eras.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I um I although I do respect all V points, I believe tonight I'm going to have to vote present because I support it being on private property.

And um and in terms of the the uh tax dollars being used to move the statute around for those that believe and feel that it's right.

I don't oppose that, but I do believe that there is something to be said for it to be placed on private property.

So I do not want to dismiss all those that came out to share their point of view as it relates to their preference.

So I believe it should be on private property.

The sponsor said that she was willing to work um with those that um that would be willing to work with her, and so for that I'm I'm gonna vote present on on tonight.

Thank you, Councilmember Willower.

There are people who want the Statue of Columbus to be put back up because they believe it is a symbol of cultural pride.

There are people who don't want the Statue of Columbus put back up because they believe it is a symbol of conquest and colonialism.

I think these two different groups are probably never going to agree on what Columbus symbolizes.

But I don't think we should need consensus to have statues or other symbols like flags or prayers happen in public spaces.

If there is something that has different meanings for different groups, I think we need to be able to let people define their own traditions.

Sometimes some of us won't like it.

But to me, it's not enough to say that a symbol like a statue shouldn't be another group's tradition or that a tradition like a prayer shouldn't be allowed to take place in public space.

If it's hate speech, if it's hate speech or a symbol of hate towards a group of people, absolutely it has no place in public space.

But I believe our communities are better when we give each other space to express ourselves according to our own traditions, as long as those traditions are not about taking something away from someone else or putting someone else down.

So I won't be supporting this resolution.

Thank you.

Any other council member Oliver?

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um I too believe in um everybody's opinion.

Um this is a little, you know, difficult for me because I don't want to be hypocritical.

Uh a week and a half ago, uh, was up in South Philly with some of my cousins um uh protesting with um attorney Michael Gord, who runs the Ancestor Coalition, ATAC, um protesting um to put back up our history in Philadelphia that um our um leader had um signed uh to law for them to take down.

Now it's um going to court.

Um so that's our heritage, and I was up there hollering.

Um we all imperfect people trying to judge other imperfect people.

So this is a little difficult for me.

But with that being said, I'm gonna vote.

Um, I'm not going to support this legislation because I would feel just hypocritical up there trying to save our history.

And tonight I hear individuals out here trying to save theirs.

So for that reason, I won't be supporting this necessation.

Thank you, Councilmember Owens.

Yes, thank you, Council President.

Um I do a lot of civil rights work.

Um, I have a long history fighting for my community and fighting for other communities that are often overlooked.

Um understand and listening to know what truly has happened.

Um, and here on all sides.

And I think um recently we've learned more.

History evolves, and we need to evolve as a community as well, too.

Um the attorney who spoke earlier.

I'm sorry if I forgetting your name, it starts with a G.

I think he put it very well that the city needs to give this statue back to the community that has cherished this, that has worked hard to preserve some of their history and allow them to put it on private property.

When we look at where we are as a city and our strong roots to the civil rights movement, we have to also understand that America itself in this 250th year has not always been perfect.

That is something we all can agree on, I hope.

But as we grow as a nation, as a city and as a community, we should be able to recognize the wrongs and start to write those.

By supporting this resolution, it's not saying that you want to erase history, it's saying that you have understood history.

You've understand where we've come from as a people, and we are working together to make sure everyone is inclusive here in the city of Wilmington.

I truly believe that the statue should be put on private property, that the history still should be told.

Because that history, even though it's uncomfortable and hard, it is a part of our American journey.

And that's what this is all about.

But when we publicize things, when we pit things funded by everyone's dollars, we have to be very careful with that.

We have to make sure that we listen to all voices.

I understand and respect everyone's culture.

That's what we all 13 of us are duly elected to do.

This isn't about erasing someone's culture.

And I think city council should help make sure that this goes somewhere where it can still, the history can build, can be shown, but it should not be on public property.

Because there are Native Americans in this city.

There are descendants of slavery in this city.

This is a very diverse city, like Councilman Johnson said.

We have to understand everyone's culture, everyone's history.

So tonight I will be supporting this.

And again, this is not a slight towards anyone.

I will roll up my sleeves and help.

I want to work to make sure you can find somewhere this can go on private property and that the city can hand this back over to you.

Let's do the right thing tonight.

That's it.

All right, thank you.

See no other hands raised.

Um I am also going to support this legislation this evening.

Um there have been a lot of comparisons, surprisingly, a lot of comparisons tonight, comparing Christopher Columbus to people who did not demonstrate hate, people who did not demonstrate genocide, people who did not have a desire to conquer other people.

So I think that's a very unfair uh comparison.

There were several made.

I'm not sure.

That's just that was it was that was very surprising.

I guess I can say it like that.

And there was there was a comment made about uh yes, he he owned slaves, so but he didn't do any of the other things.

And I'm not sure if that person, that person who gave that public comment, how they how that resonated with me.

I just speak for myself, saying, okay, yeah, he owns slaves, but it's you know it's okay.

He didn't do the other things.

That's not that that hasn't been verified.

But yes, he did own slaves, like that's a like that's a pass.

It's not.

And it's not about hiding, it's not about hiding history, but if we don't celebrate someone with a past of Christopher Columbus, the things that he did to people in this country, it was so terrible that our our school system wouldn't even talk about it.

Like, think about that for a second.

Things he did were not even put in books because it was so treacherous.

We didn't learn about it until most of us were adults because schools wouldn't even talk about it.

I just don't think that that's something that you celebrate on public property.

Again, like Councilmember Owens just said, we can definitely work with the organization to help you get it on private property, but not public property.

Um that's just I guess at the end of the day it's gonna be up to the administration.

It doesn't like this is going to pass, but there were there are people here who who spoke with compassion and and it's the people who have been the most victimized always have to be the most forgiving, and that is so unfair.

And to hear people whose ancestors and ancestors have been victimized throughout American history, have to almost apologize and give reason and almost compromise and explain why they feel the way they feel is is is sad.

But I'm not, and I'm not gonna, I am going to support this resolution this evening.

Clerk, please call for the role.

Councilman Spadola.

And and explain why they feel the way they feel is is is sad but I'm not and I'm not gonna I am going to support this resolution this evening clerk please call for the roll councilman Spadola no councilman Hackett no councilwoman Brace President Councilman Field No Councilman Johnson No Councilwoman Willower No Councilwoman Harley Present Councilwoman Oliver No Councilwoman Darby Yes Councilman Owens Yes President Congo Yes Three Yas Two Present Six Nays and Two Absent Declare Defeated Mr.

President I have a Resolution To Present Second Resolution 26013 I move This Resolution Be Received Record and Filed and Adopted by Yay and A vote Is there a Second Second It's Pen Proper Move And Second That The Resolution Be Cived Filed And Adopted By Yay Or N A Vote on the Question Yes So This Piece of Resolution Request That The Delaware General Assembly amend the Wilmington City Charter to Require Independent Redistricting Commission to Redistrict The Council's Eight Council Matic Districts Within Six Months After The Publication of The U.S.

United States Census Bureau of the Population of The City At each Federal Census Um So We Know Every Ten Years Um There is A Census That Happens Throughout Our Country Um That Um Dents Or Kind of Takes Um Demographics Of Wives In Our Cities O States In Our Country I was Able To Serve On the Redistricting Committee in My First Term And I Learned So much About Redistricting And So I Dove On the Council's Redistricting Committee But I also Think Just For More Transparency More Community Input Um Being Able To Take It Out of The Politics Is to Be Able To Create An Independent Redistricting Commission And This Independent Redistricting Commitment Um Redistrict And Commission Will Be In Charge of The Redisting Of Course With Council Um Matic Input And The You K will Be Helping To Advise and To Hear The Recommends And Feck They Have But It Windistricting Commission.

Most Cities and States have an Independent Redistrict Redistricting Commission That Hand This Process.

So I'm just Cleaning Up Some Things From My Last Term In Regards To Some Conversations That Was Had About Needing An Independent Redistricting Commission.

Thank You Thank You I Will Be Supporting This That Is An Extremely Political Time I Think This Will Take The Politics Uh Out of That Whole Process Hopefully It Will So Yes I Will Be Supporting This Council Member O'Lauer?

I'd like to Be Out As a Co Sponsor Thank You See No The Hands Raised Clerk, Please Call For The Roll.

I'm Sorry One Second Council Member Spadola asked to Be Ex Councilman Owens?

Yes.

Councilwoman Darby?

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver?

No.

Councilwoman Harley?

No.

Councilwoman Willower?

Yes.

Councilman Johnson?

No.

Councilman Field?

No.

Councilwoman Bracey?

No.

Councilman Hackett?

No.

Why not?

President Congo.

Yes.

Four Yes.

Six Nays and Three Absent.

Declare Defeated.

Mr.

President, I have a Resolution to Present.

Resolution 26-014 Agenda Number Zero.

I move this resolution be received, recorded, and filed, and adopted by a Yay and A vote.

Second.

It's been properly moved and second the resolution be received, recorded, filed, and adopted by Yay and A vote on the question.

Yeah.

So this is in regards to making sure that there is a city formal representation on the Diamond State Port Corporation Board, which monitors the Wilmington port.

So we know that a few decades ago, the city did own the ports.

We end up giving it to the state so that the state can operate and manage it.

And you know, they um do RP for a third party right now.

So a third party um operates our port.

However, we don't, even though it's within the city of Wilmington limits, I feel like we still not as a city council involved in conversations that impact us and our constituents.

So I think it's really important that we have a representative from our city government to be able to have a vested responsibility to make sure like major state controlled assets located in the city operate in a manner aligned with our priorities and community well-being.

All right, thank you.

See no hands raised.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

I I have to agree with um the sponsor of this legislation being the council um city council representative, uh, where um this particular corporation operates.

Um when the previous company was selected, um there were a number of red flags that um I sh I saw actually early on and trying to have meetings and trying to be heard was very, very difficult.

And of course, um at the end of the day, that particular company ended up not delivering basically on anything that they had promised.

So I do think that this would be in the best interest of the city um if there was an ex if ex officio seat or uh an appointment uh from Wilmington from from city council.

So I will be in support of this resolution for that reason.

Councilmember Owens.

Yes, can I be added as a co-sponsor, please?

Thank you, Councilmember Oliver.

I'd like to be count um added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you, Councilmember Willower.

I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Mr.

President, I meant to say I want to be added as co-sponsor.

All right, council.

Thank you.

Councilmember Johnson.

Uh also would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I would also like to be added as a co-sponsor.

See no other hands raised.

Back to the sponsor for any closing comments.

None clerk, please call for the roll.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Darby.

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver.

Yes.

Councilwoman Harley.

Yes.

Councilwoman Willower.

Yes.

Councilman Johnson.

Yes.

Councilman Field.

Yes.

Councilwoman Bracie.

Yes.

Councilman Hackett.

Yes.

President Congo.

Yes.

All right.

Declared adopted.

Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present.

Resolution 26-015, agenda number 0187.

Whereas the Diamond State Port Corporation is undertaking.

I'll move this resolution be received, recorded, filed, and adopted by YA and A vote.

Second.

It's been properly moved and second.

The resolution be received, recorded, filed, and adopted by Yay and A vote on the question.

Yeah, so this piece of legislation is also connected to the port, but this is all um speaking to the conversation being had now about the expansion of the Wilmington port.

The expansion is going to go up into the Edgemore area, which is out of the city of Wilmington limits.

So I am asking that we are able to be able to annex um the port expansion into the Claymore Edgemore area.

This is an economic impact because we know we have head tax in regards to workers in our city.

I do not want to lose that with the expansion of the Wilmington port.

So this is what this legislation is about.

So I have had conversations with Governor Matt Myers about this early last year.

I had conversations with the administration about this.

I have reached out to the county council, the Mark Marcus Henry office several times.

I haven't gotten a meeting yet to have a conversation with them about this.

Thank you, Councilmember Owens, followed by Councilmember Harley.

Yes, first off, I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you for bringing this forward.

This is an important piece of legislation as the port corporation and instructor are going through their final stages of getting um approvals to uh to start um development up in that area.

I think it's extremely important that as we all talk about revenue projections for the city of Wilmington.

Um, this is a way to guarantee that we still have some of those head taxes coming in to the city of Wilmington.

So um I support this, and I think it's also gonna take an effort of talking with the county council um to go through that additional layer since the Delaware General Assembly pit those stipulations because we're larger than 50,000.

So um I will be supporting this tonight.

Thank you, Councilmember Harley.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

I too will be in support of this legislation and would like to be added as a co-sponsor simply because I know for a fact that our mayor is definitely this is on his radar.

I know for a fact um I was in conversation, not just myself, but um this is something that is on our mayor's radar, the very same identical topic.

So I will say um for the record that this is already something that's being discussed, and so this resolution just um just has that extra added uh reinforcement.

So um I support it and would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Willower, followed by Councilmember Oliver.

I'd like to be out as a co-sponsor.

Councilmember Oliver.

Yes, Ms.

President, I'd like to um ask the sponsor question.

Yes, Councilmember State.

You may ask your question.

Thank you.

Um the question is Councilman Darby.

Have you spoke to Senator Brown?

Because I've read several articles in the paper um about his legislation in Dover.

I'm just wondering, have you had a conversation um with him?

Because it seems to be uh duplication of what Senator Brown had a um uh a press conference down at Port of Wilmington with the governor.

So I'm just wondering.

Um I was looking forward to seeing like Senate, you know, Senate Bill, something connected to it.

Um, what is the difference?

Yeah.

Um, so I don't think there's any difference, but I have reached out to Wilmington delegation.

Some respond and some don't.

That's the best way I could put that.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

I would also like to be added as a co-sponsor.

See no other hands raised.

Please call for the role.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Darby.

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver?

Yes.

Councilwoman Harley.

Yes.

Councilwoman Willower.

Yes.

Councilman Johnson.

Yes.

Councilman Field.

Yes.

Councilwoman Bracey.

Yes.

Councilman Hackett.

Yes.

President Congo.

Yes.

Ten years and three absent.

Declared adopted.

Mr.

Oh, sorry.

Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present.

Resolution 26-016, agenda number 0188.

Whereas public purchases.

I move this resolution be received, recorded, and filed and adopted by a yay and they vote.

Is there a second?

Second.

It's been properly moved and second this resolution be received, recorded, filed, and adopted by Yay or NA vote on the question.

Yeah.

So this legislation is asking for the city of Wilmington Charter to allow citizens of Wilmington to fill a vacancy arising on city council through a special election.

So we will have a direct primary election.

It will not go through the Democratic Party to go through their process.

It will go through a process where the citizens get to vote who they want to be in seats.

If someone decides to run for another office, for some reason leaves their seat and there's a vacant seat.

Currently, right now, the process is that we appoint someone as a council, which becomes very political.

Thank you.

I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Councilmember Johnson.

This is a matter I know it has been discussed for some time.

We have two members pass away on council.

So there's a lot of just trying to figure that out.

And so, you know, I'm not sure, you know, how well it could be implemented with department elections.

I'd be interested in knowing can department elections even do this.

So I support the proposition, but I don't even know if Department of Elections can do this.

Um, because if you look, you know, statewide.

I know they have um sometimes in the state races they do it.

Um, but we would just have to figure out from a cost perspective with the city.

But um overall, it is a good idea, but you we just have to look at the cost further.

Thank you, Councilmember Owens.

Yes, uh Councilmember Willower.

Thank you.

Uh Council President.

So this isn't something that is uncommon throughout the state of Delaware.

Almost every municipality that has elections um works with the Department of Lecture for their machines, but is able to run their own elections.

Um we're actually the only one that is in intertwined with the state um primary with the state reps county and everything like that.

Um so it it is doable.

Um and again, this goes to strengthening um the voice of our community.

I know um earlier it was spoken that you know we all represent different districts and have different opinions, and I think we had a great robust debate about that.

And I think in that same sense, because we represent different communities and different backgrounds that we should give the people who actually live there uh opportunity to have a say in who will represent them if one of us steps down, if unfortunately passes away or runs for another office.

This is just strengthening our democracy.

So again, I am in favor of this.

I would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Um, and again, these type of primaries are not unusual.

They do them in other states, and again, um municipalities do their own elections throughout Delaware already.

Thank you, Councilmember Hackett, then Councilmember Willower.

Yeah, I just wanna uh you know, second what uh Councilman Owens just said, and also be added as a co-sponsor um to this uh resolution.

Thank you, Councilmember Willower.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I also wanted to say ditto to um what councilman Owen said, and I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Councilmember Bracey, followed by Councilmember Oliver.

Thanks.

Um I just want to say uh for the record that I support the idea and the intent of this, but I am still leery of the process.

And without making sure that it's clear on how this would work here in the city of Wilmington, I'm not sure I'm ready to support.

I do like this idea.

Um I do um think it's something that we should continue to talk about.

But I'd love to hear from the Department of Elections and also um how this would work within our party system because currently the uh party nomineates.

And I know uh councilwoman, you said that the way this is written, and I I just read through it again.

Um the party would not be the one nominating the candidates, but I I still would want to talk to someone at the party to make sure that that is what's gonna happen.

Councilmember Oliver, followed by Councilmember Harley.

Thank you.

Um Council uh President.

Um this is this is uh not a new discussion.

We've been discussing this now for some time.

Um our legislators in Dover was totally against this.

I think Councilman Um Harley had brought this up some time ago.

Um, and the department of elections had some issues with it.

So it wasn't nothing that wasn't discussed in the past, but we didn't have the support, we didn't have the support for it down the general assembly.

Um and um even with people passing or whatever, um people um were elected and may have worked out that term, and then when the election came up, um most of the times they were um uh not nominated, so it was just for a short period of time.

Um and like I said, um department election, nobody was trying to pay for it, and the simplest way was for council to um do to make the nominations.

It's been occurring for years, and I saying this right of wrong different.

Um, but I do know that Dover was not in support of it because this is not the first conversation we've had several conversations regarding this.

So I just wanted to put that on the record.

Thank you.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

So to Councilmember Oliver's point, she's absolutely right.

Um I believe the one point that was not in included was that the the party or the political party wants to be involved in that.

And so um until we can get the General Assembly on board um with not wanting to do or use that process, I think you know, we're just um kind of like hitting the wall because they pretty much only want this process if the party can be um involved in selecting the the individual, and I don't see that being any different than the process that we have today as it relates to council weighing in on the process that we have versus the party pretty much selecting um the person that ends up in the seat.

So I would be very interested in us trying to build a relationship to see if we can move the needle past that one point because if not, we already know where the General Assembly stands unless something has changed.

So I support it 100%, but I'm just trying to share with the obstacle, the main obstacle is, and from what I'm hearing tonight, that's the piece that we want to remove out of the process, the party selecting the individual.

So that's all I have, Mr.

President.

Yes, thank you.

And just to give some like historical context.

Um this was a piece that I I did uh present, I think the last term, but it got twisted and turned around when it got back to us.

It was the Democratic Party inserting themselves in the process, and that's not something that I wanted.

So I um I held it.

And it's all about control, and that's extremely unfair.

If if the if we were saying that the community there's already an election process, we shouldn't try to go around that process and try to control who's in put in our political offices.

Um we should let the people be able to decide.

Council shouldn't decide, the state shouldn't decide, and the democratic party should not decide.

Um I think it's very hypocritical to want to try to insert themselves or ourselves in a process that is supposed to be the people's process.

Councilmember Owens.

Yes, just to a few points that was made about whether the General Assembly would be open to this.

So in two or 2025, there was two open state senate seats.

Um, and Governor Matt Myers put out a lengthy um letter calling for a process just like this to strengthen um our democratic process or democracy here in Delaware.

Um, and it's something that I know that his office has still pushed for, um, and it's still working for.

So I think this is on par with what is going on down in Dover currently, right now, with trying to change that system to uh have more people involved with our election cycle.

Um, and to the point, I think someone said that most of those people get elected.

Um, I sit in a seat of uh the late Linda Gray, um, who passed away during last term.

Um, and the person who was selected, um I beat them in a race, but 80% of the district did not want that person, right?

Because they did not reflect the values of the first district.

So again, this just gives an added ability for the community to have a say and what is going on in our community and who's gonna be their voice, right?

So again, I think we should empower our all our different residents, civic associations to get involved in the process because they understand their community the best, and they definitely understand it better than some of us.

They understand what their needs are.

So thank you, Councilmember Bracey, followed by council member Johnson.

So just so as a juxtaposition to what uh my colleague just said, I was appointed to, and I sit in the seat of the late Loretta Walsh, and when election time came, I earned the right to come back.

So I do understand the importance of having the community have a voice again to what Mr.

President said, the challenge that we have to deal with is the control and making sure that if we're doing this, it's done in a way that the community has the right to select and not the party, whether it's Democrat, working families, Republican, what purple green party, it's the people.

So I do uh, like I said before, support the intent of what we're trying to do.

Thanks.

Councilmember Johnson.

Similar to my colleague also was uh appointed and re-elected and then re-elected again.

So, you know, the process can work the the right way.

Um I I do agree uh and um council member uh Owens has worked in a party as well.

Uh so has Councilmember Bracey, I have as well, had different positions in the party.

I think this is a bigger question.

I am supportive of this initiative, but how does it play out?

Because the problem is statewide again.

There's there's not a the party selects the individual.

So if we change it, I guess statewide, they would need to change the process.

Again, it has ramifications statewide.

So it definitely is a party, maybe it's a state convention or um whatever the political parties decide, I don't know.

Um, but it definitely is something that needs to be solved because Wilmington shouldn't just do it, and the rest of the state doesn't do it.

So the whole state's gonna do a primary and then go to the general, then I think um, you know, Wilmington should do the same thing and then social the state.

So it's uh interesting question.

I think we have to talk to our state parties, not just one party, but Democrat and Republican, independents, whatever have be, uh, you know, everyone should be at the table to talk about this.

Thank you.

Sponsor no closing thoughts.

Okay, please call for the roll.

Councilman Owens?

Yes.

Councilwoman Darby?

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver present.

Councilwoman Harley.

Yes.

Councilwoman Willower.

Yes.

Councilman Johnson.

Yes.

Councilman Field.

Rosen.

Councilwoman Bracey.

Yes.

Councilman Hackett.

Yes.

President Congo.

Yes.

Eight years, two present and three absent.

Beclare to doctor.

Councilmember Oliver.

Yes, Mr.

President.

I have a ordinance to present and call for the first and second reading.

So I go so ordinance number 26-014, agenda number zero one eight nine.

An ordinance to authorize and approve the first amendment to an agreement for water and sewer service line protection programs between the city of Wilmington and American Water Resources LLC.

First reading of the ordinance.

An ordinance to authorize and approve the first amendment to an agreement for water and sewer service line protection programs between the city of Wilmington and American Water Resources LLC.

Second reading of the ordinance.

Second.

It's been properly moved and seconded that be known as the first and second reading of the ordinance and referred to the public works and transportation committee.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I have a resolution to present.

Resolution 26-017, agenda number 0190.

Whereas in 2025 alone, an estimated 104 million packages were stolen from porches throughout the United States, resulting in estimated losses to consumers of 15 billion and 22 billion in losses to retailers.

Second.

It's been probably moved and seconded the resolution BBC recorded, filed and adopted by Yay and A vote on the question.

Yes, uh Mr.

President.

This porch privacy privacy has um earned national attention as nearly half of Americans have packages stolen from their homes.

Um you're constantly seeing it on the news.

Um, but I don't need to see it on the news because I live it in my community.

Um so the General Assembly, um, 152 section previously introduced legislation in the House Bill House Bill 50 to counteract these pat these packages from um carries uh private from carry that do not consider um the bill for the final vote, but the resolution recommends the current general assembly session introduced and pass the legislation similar to the previous introduction of House Bill 50.

And I know Dr.

Kendra had made contact um with the sponsor in Dover, and it should be coming up.

So this is just encouraging Dover to pass the bill so some actions can be taken if individuals have um it on camera.

I know some you know it's various things that people are doing nationally to try to um you know counteract with this porch privacy, but um it's a shame because some seniors have a lot of their medicine that's been stolen, and it's hard for them to get their medicine back.

That was really one of the things that had triggered.

First it was the packages, then when the lady called me crying about she wasn't able to get when she called um her insurance company, she wasn't able to get her medicine back, and someone from Dover helped her, but it was a big thing.

But um, I just think it's important that we encourage you know the General Assembly to um pass um House Bill 50.

So that's encouraging it.

I can't get this bone.

Thank you.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

Um thank you, Councilmember Oliver, for bringing this back up.

Um I have uh two questions.

One, um do we have someone down at the General Assembly that's basically champion this legislation, Mr.

President?

Councilmember Oliver.

Yes, we do um have our um individual down there um who is champion that we're just talking about uh red tonight.

So he is working on it.

Great.

Um I would like to uh be supportive and calling down to the General Assembly on this because I have a community where it is so out of hand um packages being stolen.

Um it's is I mean, like just about every other day, two to three times a week.

And it's really really out of hand, and something definitely needs to be done.

And so I would just like to um work with you in terms of you know just getting something done down at the General Assembly to get this through.

And as you mentioned, it is a national issue, but um there are packages that have medicine um in these packages, like you said.

So it is pretty serious.

Um, it's not all about merchandise, clothes, and things of that nature.

So um I would like to be a co-sponsor on this and let me know.

Thank you.

And I meant to say we have a lobbyist.

I'm sorry, Miss Ums President.

I'm sorry, I didn't I meant to say our lobbyist for it.

Um he is working.

Um Ken just said um the sponsor says he has spoken to our lobbyists about it.

So he is um working on this because it's kind of old, so he's trying to get it through.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Johnson.

I'd like to be out as a co-sponsor.

I think it's been well said, this is an urgent issue with the city.

Quality of life in general, as we'll see later tonight.

There's another ordinance.

This is what we're here to clean up and improve the quality of life of all Womitonian, especially our seniors, protecting our seniors.

So uh however we can get this over the finish line would be great.

So you know the hands raised.

Councilmember Owens.

Yes.

Um I just want to point out um that the chief at the last committee meeting um raised that there's already charges uh that they can use.

So if this is currently happening in the interim between now and what the General Assembly is doing, if you do have packages that are stolen, please report it to the Woman to police department.

They are um doing a good job.

Um so I just want to make sure that we continue to highlight that you know they can work on things like this.

Thank you.

Thank you, Clerk.

Please call for the roll.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Darby?

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver?

Yes.

Councilwoman Harley.

Yes.

Councilwoman Willower.

Yes.

Councilman Johnson.

Yes.

Councilman Field?

Yes.

Councilwoman Bracey.

Yes.

President Congo.

Yes.

Nine years and four absent.

I would like to.

Did you ask?

Well, I'm still on the call.

Councilman.

Councilman Hackett.

Yes.

And Councilman Hackett, you may be excused.

Thank you.

I didn't, I was waiting for that.

All right, thank you.

Appreciate it.

Ten years and three absent.

Councilmember Oliver.

Um was it adopted?

I didn't hear nobody said it was adopted.

10 years and three abs.

I know I'm used to you saying it's saying it.

Uh-huh.

Mr.

President, I have a final resolution present.

Resolution 26-018, agenda number 0191.

Whereas section 2-234 of the city code authorizes the Office of Economic Development to develop plans, policies, and strategies for the city's economic and business development and viability and provide leadership coordination and oversight.

I move this resolution we receive recording adopted as a year and they vote.

I'm busy looking at you.

Second.

It's been probably moved and seconded the resolution BBC, recorded, filed, and adopted by Yay or NA vote on the question.

Yes, Mr.

President.

Councilman Harley is definitely involved with this.

This resolution has been presented by City Council to review the approval.

This resolution is respectfully requesting administration to collaborate with the Office of Economic Development for the 2050 celebration to plan to execute an economic development conference to attract and retain some entrepreneurial investment in the city of Wilmington.

So this is a big rollout for the 250, and because I'm on the committee.

But so great idea.

I say let's make it as much about all the areas outside of downtown and the riverfront as it is those two areas.

Thank you, Councilmember Owens.

Yes, I would like to um echo what my council colleague from the 8th district just said.

There are um business areas all throughout this city.

Um I have a few Miller Road, Washington Street, and on North Market Street, um, that would love the same attention that someone downtown gets as well too.

Um so again, I would like to co-sponsor this, but again, I want to echo what my council colleagues said.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Johnson, followed by Councilmember Harley.

Uh I would like to be as a co-sponsor to add to my fellow district council persons.

But uh, thank you, Councilman Field, for saying this.

We we have to get attention out to the rest of the city.

And again, this is a conversation, but we focus on downtown development for a good 20 plus years.

We gotta get some love uh on the west side, north side, east side, everywhere.

Um we have both small businesses that overlook, so I'm looking forward to this conference.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

I did owe um all the comments regarding um wanting more love to be shown in other communities.

Um I support all of Wilmington.

Um, and I do believe that there are opportunities for us to um help to promote other districts and other communities as it relates to economic development.

So I am all for that.

I support that 100%.

If there's anything that I can do um in regards to making that happen, um I don't mind meeting the council members, and I would like to be added um as a co-sponsor and also if possible, um, include some of the other council members in some of the meetings to talk about um ideals and to brainstorm in terms of what we would like to see as it relates to to this particular 250 year uh uh uh task force or committee.

That's all I have.

Thank you, Councilmember Willower.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, I just want to thank all my council colleagues who brought up the need for economic development across the city.

I think that's uh such an important point, and I want to thank Councilwoman Oliver for the resolution, and I'd like to ask to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you, Councilmember Bracey.

Thanks, Mr.

President.

Um, I too would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Um, one of the conversations that I frequently am having with my colleagues is around uh my passion for commercial corridor revitalization and the fact that we have commercial corridors that have been overlooked, such as North Market Street, Fourth Street, Lancaster Avenue.

We've done a lot of work on Union Street, but there's more that can be done.

So there are other commercial corridors throughout our city besides our downtown corridors that we can really be emphasizing and looking at you know what business districts look like outside of downtown and the riverfront and how do we support them.

So I'm in uh agreement with all of my district colleagues um as it relates to us making sure that we put some emphasis and show some love to businesses and economic drivers uh across the city and not just in one section.

Thanks.

Thank you, Councilmember Oliver for final comment.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um yes, I just wanted to um kind of bring some clarity to this.

If you look at it, this is um economic development trying to execute an economic development conference.

Um, and it's one in Philly in about two weeks, so I'm gonna go there and with their saying they're trying to bring people here to Wilmington for a conference, um, maybe someone such as Johnson and Johnson, other big organizations, um corporations to hear how they attract and retain entrepreneur investment in their city.

So we're trying to have a conference um with some big corporations or small corporations who have some ideas that can tell us some of the things they're doing in their city so we can try to transform it here.

So it's not necessarily about going to the various corridors.

If you see um I'm requesting um to work with economic development and see if they can bring some people here because since I've been on conference, I mean on council, they have never had a conference here um in the city of Wormton.

I went to one in Newark before with different you know organizations were there, businesses, but we want to bring them here so we can walk around like when we go out of state and see other conferences.

It's time for us to sit at Wilmington have a large conference here with all the council members from various districts involved.

Thank you.

Thank you, Clerk.

Please call for the role.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Darby?

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver.

Yes.

Councilwoman Harley.

Yes.

Councilwoman Willower.

Yes.

Councilman Johnson.

Yes.

Councilman Field.

Yes.

Councilwoman Bracey.

Yes.

And President Congo.

Yes.

Nine years and four absent.

Declared adopted.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, Mr.

President.

I have an ordinance to present and call for the first and second reading.

Agenda item number one ninety-two.

Ordinance number 26-015, agenda number 0192.

An ordinance constituting amendment number two to the fiscal year 2026, 2026 annual operating budget, being an ordinance to amend substitute number one to ordinance number 25-009.

First reading of the ordinance.

Second reading of the ordinance.

Mr.

President, I move that to be known as the first and second reading of the ordinance and refer it to the Finance and Economic Development Committee.

Second.

It's been properly moved and seconded that we known as the first and second reading of the ordinance and refer to the Finance and Economic Development Committee.

Yes, Mr.

President, I have an ordinance to present and call for the first and second reading agenda item number 0193.

Ordinance number 26-016, agenda number 0193, an ordinance to authorize and approve an agreement between the city of Wilmington and U.S.I.

Insurance Services, LLC for property and casualty insurance brokerage services.

First reading of the ordinance.

Second reading of the ordinance.

Mr.

President, I move that it be known as the first and second reading of the ordinance and refer it to the Finance and Economic Development Committee.

Second.

It's been properly moved and seconded that that be known as the first and second reading of the ordinance.

And refer to the Finance and Economic Development Committee.

That's all I have, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councilmember Johnson.

Mr.

President, I have an ordinance to present and call for the third and final reading.

Ordinance number 26, 26-004, agenda number 0168.

An ordinance to enact a temporary moratorium on smoke shops within the city of Wilmington.

Mr.

President, I move that being known as enacting closet ordinance and call for a yay-nay vote.

Second.

It's been properly moved and seconded that be known as the enacting clause of the ordinance and called for a yay or nay vote on the question.

This is a uh this is a very important discussion we're having uh as a city.

Um something that's really been on our radar for a while with the legalization of marijuana, which I'm a supporter of well-regulated marijuana industry.

But we found in a city there was just a just uh outbreak of these unregulated smoke shops.

So not only is the city problem, but it's a state problem.

You go anywhere, county court, or every single commercial building is a smoke shop.

Um so enough is enough.

We're tired of it.

All of our district council people, all the I believe this is something which we should be able to get 13 on 13 on this.

This is a big issue.

Council hats off to our policy team, Kendra um and her policy interns for working on this.

We started in the fall working on this moratorium, and for to provide clarity for those who are watching, it it's a one we would we need to implement an equity impact assessment to figure out how to even license these retailers because they're not tobacco, they're not marijuana, they're not retail.

Some are going on license.

Um we've had two that have been well, one that was shut down on Lancaster, uh, another one on Maryland Avenue where we we had some uh illegal drug trade issues.

So it's just happening uh all over the city.

And so the idea is that we need a year to figure out how to even license these.

But the um the effect of the moratorium, it remains in place.

If it takes council longer than a year, it will remain in place for more than a year.

So the letter to law, it can be up to uh it could be a year, it could be more until council repeals it.

Um so this is really council standing up as a city.

Um we have to take action.

We have to save our community.

Kids are getting access to drugs.

Um, those who um look to do the drug trade and legal gun trade are doing these in the shops.

I know I've talked to my colleague, Councilman Field a lot about this issue, and he's all over it too.

So it's something that unfortunately is affecting all of our communities.

Um so enough is enough.

We're looking forward to uh implementing this and um really um you know creating a safer Womanton.

So I hope everyone can support.

Thank you.

Councilmember Oliver.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Uh to Councilman Johnson about this many times.

But um I think we also need other all the other um entities involved here.

Um, you know, um I have a very close friend of mine who lives over on Merlin Avenue, and when they went in that smoke shop, um, they did get a gun and they found plenty of marijuana and the stores backed open.

So we could put all these regulations in come to find out land use and planning stated that um they couldn't close them down permanently because of it wasn't a co-violation.

If marijuana, plenty of marijuana and a gun is not a co-violation, I don't know what it is.

So what's the purpose of putting in these regulations if we don't have enforcement?

We need the city of Wilmington, we need everybody involved.

That smoke shop should not be open.

It's not fair for that smoke shop to be open with gun and plenty of marijuana.

Now they comes out, get tapped on the hand.

Well, I didn't find a vi which what is a violation if you don't find that.

So we need to enforce or put some legislation in that that is a violation.

So I mean, that is a co-violation.

So I I don't understand.

Um, so we're looking into whatever that co-violation has to be.

If the cops go in there with a warrant, you know, so we talked about it, but I think it's unfair that the residents have to deal with that.

I'm dealing with it in my community.

You have to close down some of these corner stores.

It's just um, it's a revolving door.

You know, they get busted, they close down, um, they go in there, they find stuff.

Oh, it's not enough.

And I mean, so the people don't care.

They're making a mint off our communities and they're poisoning their kids and everybody else, because it's um it's an open market.

So it's getting like Philadelphia or some of the other larger cities that they're just able to, I mean, Councilman McCoy put in something that they're not supposed to have um all the advertising right at the at the counter.

You go in there, all the advertising at the counter.

Um we talked about the lights.

I mean, I talked to Nate, we talked all council members have been talking about these little small smoke shops just popping up here and there, and like Councilman Chris Johnson said half of them don't even have license.

It's up to land use and L and I to go, you know, we harassed and I don't mean harass them, we're running up in senior homes, we're giving them tickets, we're giving them violations.

How about burn your energies one day and go in all these corner stores and see if they have license?

Like Chris said over his district, two of them didn't even have license in mine, two of them didn't have license.

So we need land use and L and I.

I mean, you know, uh yeah, whatever the name changed all, but y'all know I'm talking about L and I and land use and planning to do take a part of this action.

Otherwise, we just beating a dead fish.

Uh Councilmember.

I know I never heard of put that way.

That's old school.

I try to hold it in.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, thank you.

That was funny.

Um I I would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

My issue with this is that um the ordinance says that um we want to put a temporary moratorium on the issuance of business license.

How about when they get licensed and the license or not basically asking for smoke shops?

Um, and they pretty much uh get a license to just open up a shop and then they end up selling these types of things.

So my biggest issue is the you know, how do you stop them from getting a license to just open up a deli and then they end up um you know selling these types of things?

So I I support this 100%, but my biggest concern, I mean, we're saying put put a uh more to temporary moratorium on the issuance of some of them are not saying that they have a smoke job.

I think that's part of the problem.

And I think um part of what councilmember Oliver was saying is that there needs to be some type of monitoring, um, especially for the businesses that did not get a license to be a smoke shop, that they have a license, but not to be a smoke shop, but they have those types of products in their stores.

So I just wanted to share that as it relates to this legislation.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Owens.

Oh, yeah, Councilmember Willower.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um again, I just want to say thank you to Councilman Johnson for bringing this forward.

This is extremely needed in the city.

Um, and again, I thank him for his leadership on this.

I do want to echo what Councilwoman Harley uh stated about, and I think that calls for a greater like reform of what can be done when individuals get a license and then they don't operate within that license in which they applied for, um, because that's happening throughout the city of Wilmington as well, too.

But when it goes back to the smoke shops, they are popping up all over the city of Wilmington, and especially in um predominantly minority communities.

Um, and some of the wrappers on the items that they sell are targeted towards a younger generation, uh not even legal to buy cigarettes, but it targets them.

So again, um, I think this is a good first step.

I think we have a lot of work to still do um with council working with real estate and housing.

I mean um land use and planning um in L and I, um, but really with uh land use and planning because they they're the business compliance.

So um again, just working with them, coordinating with them, um, and getting this under control in the city.

I will be supporting this.

Councilmember Willower.

Yeah, I wanted to thank thank you, Mr.

President.

I wanted to thank Councilmember Johnson for um you know bringing up this legislation and also I think uh Councilwoman Oliver just really described the issues that it's not just about legislation, it's also about enforcement.

I wanted to echo that.

And I do have a question for the sponsor, which is just the first sentence here of section one.

It says a temporary moratorium is hereby established on the issuance of any new business license for corner properties.

Is it supposed to say smoke shops there?

Councilmember Johnson.

Uh it is smoke shops.

Um so the the title is smoke shops, but uh it does not is not related to corner properties.

That's a separate ordinance that I believe is being worked on.

So I don't know if it's a typo in your version.

I don't know, it says it right here in my paper.

Yeah.

Um, I don't know, Clerk.

Yeah, there is the typo in the final version.

I don't know if that's the version online.

Uh it's page three line two.

So I don't know if we need an amendment or is that can we correct the record?

Can we just make a floor amendment real quick?

We didn't do that.

Um, we are advised that we don't need an amendment.

But you can speak to it, please.

Correct it.

If it's just a if it's just a typo, council member Johnson we'll just call it chalk that up to a scrivener's air and change it.

It it is a typo.

Okay, that was a great catch by council member Willower.

It's uh it doesn't need it doesn't need an amendment.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Councilmember Darby.

Yes, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Um this is uh issue in my district, too, with the oversaturation of smoke shops, liquor stores, unhealthy food, convenience stores.

Um so I am definitely in support of putting a stop on those licenses, and but even more important, after the temporary moratorium is established, there's going to be an equity impact analysis, what I'm looking forward to, where they can at least you know get a good count of how many we have, what is the impact on public health, public safety.

So we'll be able to get a report.

So that's what I'm really looking forward to for then us to be able to then be guided with what type of legislation we need to do as legislators to make sure that we um we regulate these stores properly, and honestly, we don't need any more at all.

So we could definitely limit it once we have that number.

Thank you.

See no other hands raised, go back to the sponsor for any final comment.

Um no, I I I degree with everyone that um and and L and I has been at the table.

Uh um director Pabone, Director Larkin, they're at the table because everyone's right, enforcement has to improve, along with working with Wilmington police.

Um, so the smoke shop that we had closed down on Lancaster is a Thanksgiving community uh outpouring, giving intel um information.

So we gotta work together as a city.

So I look forward to implementing this impact analysis and making this a safer city.

Thank you.

Thank you, Clerk.

Please call for the role.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Darby, yes, Councilwoman Oliver, yes.

Councilwoman Harley, yes.

Councilwoman Willower, yes.

Councilman Johnson?

Yes.

Councilman Field.

Yes.

Councilwoman Bracey.

Yes.

And President Congo.

Yes.

Nine years and four absent.

Declared adopted.

Councilmember Bracey on behalf of Councilmember Cabrera.

Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present on behalf of Councilmember Cabrera.

Resolution number 26-019 and the number 0194.

Whereas the city of Wilmington is I move this resolution be received, recording, and filed, and adopted by Yay and A vote.

Second.

Mr.

President, this resolution is authorizing the mayor to file a third substantial amendment to the federal fiscal year 2021, uh City Fiscal Year 2022 annual action plan regarding the allocation of home ARP funds with the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Essentially, what this amend amendment will do is transfer 150,000 of the 2022 allocation to fund new public service line item for homeless prevention.

The eligible activity for these funds will be to serve individuals and families at risk of homelessness and qualifying populations for whom providing supportive services or assistance will prevent homelessness or address the great risk of housing and instability.

Some of the uh supportive services that uh could be this could be used for um and this is not exhaustive list is case management, financial assistance, short-term and medium-term financial assistance for rent.

These are all of the approved um uses under HUD, and that that's not all.

Um there is no uh fiscal impact because it's only a reallocation of existing funds that the city already has.

Um, so there's no no impact statement.

Councilmember Owens.

Yes, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Um, and hopefully we can review some other dollars that are out there still and reallocate for this issue.

This is an extremely important issue, so I think the administration for this thank you.

See no other hands raised.

Clerk, please call for the roll.

Councilman Owens, yes, councilwoman Darby, Councilwoman Oliver Councilwoman Harley, yes, Councilwoman Willower, yes, Councilman Johnson, yes, Councilman Field, yes, Councilwoman Bracey, yes, President Congo, yes, eight years and five absent.

Declared adopted.

Can I be excused?

Yes, you may be excused.

Mr.

President, I have another resolution to present on behalf of Councilmember Cabrera.

Resolution 26-020, agenda number 0195.

Whereas the city of Wilmington is an entitlement community for I move this resolution be received, recorded, filed, and adopted by Yay and Nate vote.

Second.

It's been popping moved and second the resolution be received, recorded, filed, and adopted by Yay and A vote on the question.

Mr.

President, this is another resolution authorizing the mayor to file uh first substantial amendment to the federal fiscal year 2025, city fiscal year 26 annual action plan with the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This one is transferring 110,000 of CDBG uh program funds.

This is unused money that was already allocated by HUD from several public service homeless prevention activities to curb code purple, excuse me, code purple to address the needs of unsheltered people.

Additionally, the amendment will transfer a million dollars from unallocated CDBG program income and delivery administration lines to fund CDBG program demolition for 2200,000 and creates a a program rental rehabilitation program for $800,000.

The program guidelines and procedures will meet HUD's requirements and will be used exclusively to create more affordable housing.

The primary intent of this program is to preserve currently unsubsidized affordable renting units and then a transfer those into affordable excuse me preserve currently unsubsidized affordable housing units.

So it's to create affordable housing only.

Um there is no fiscal impact because this is only a reallocation again of existing HUD funds.

Councilmember Owens.

Yes, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor and again thank the administration for finding these dollars to go towards this again.

I think uh anything we can do to make Wilmington more affordable for residents um who currently live here is um should be top of mind.

Um cost of living is completely out of control.

So again, this is a good first step.

Hopefully, there's more dollars that we can find um and and do more for our residents here.

Councilmember Oliver.

I'd like to be added as co-sponsor.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor co co-sponsor and ditto the remarks of councilmember Owens.

Anything towards um improving um housing, affordable housing, um, and anything in that category.

I totally support it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Willower.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor and also echo what councilwoman Harley and Councilman Owen said.

Thank you.

Also like to be added as a co-sponsor.

So you know, seeing over the hands raised.

Clerk, please call for the roll.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver.

Yes.

Councilwoman Harley.

Yes.

Councilwoman Willower.

Yes.

Councilman Johnson.

Yes.

Councilman Field.

Yes.

Councilwoman Bracey.

Yes.

And President Congo.

Yes.

Eight years and five absent.

Declared adopted.

This time we will move to petitions and communications, starting with Councilwoman Bracey.

Caught me off guard.

I know.

Nothing tonight, though.

All right.

Thank you, Councilmember Field.

Nothing tonight, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Councilmember Johnson.

Nothing tonight, except just thank you to the community that's come out to talk about how we move forward as a city.

So I appreciate everyone.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Worlower.

Nothing tonight, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes.

Go to uh Downtown Vision's social media page.

And they have a number of events that they share on their page in terms of what's happening in downtown and around Wilmington.

And I also want to mention that the bridge art gallery uh co-owners, um, Cheryl and Christopher Mack, who was here tonight to uh be recognized.

They have a art gallery in Loma on market between second and third.

They're going to have an event this Saturday from two to five.

And may I add they have some beautiful, beautiful art.

And um, if individuals are available, I would love for them to come and uh visit the art gallery.

And not only that, but I want to encourage everyone to try to um support our black businesses.

Um those uh owners that were here tonight, they were very, very excited about getting the recognition um during Black History uh month, but they really really would like our support and drop in to uh support their businesses.

That's all I have, Mr.

President.

All right, thank you.

Councilmember Oliver.

Yes, Mr.

President.

Um we have um like to make an announcement that we have a meeting um third district, um East Side Civic Association down steps tomorrow.

Um for any other individuals from the third district who would like to attend regarding the varents that's coming up for Monday.

Um didn't get the letter in the mail and I knocked on a couple doors.

So we have an emergency meeting so we can talk about who's supported, who's supportive and who isn't.

Also on the 25th of this month, um uh partner with um Rose Hill Community Center um regarding individuals who need some assistance with election bills.

Um so we will be doing something over in the northeast area on the 25th um from five o'clock, um, I think to 7:30.

Um that's next Wednesday the 25th.

Individuals need some help with their lecture bill.

Um that is the major conversation right now with that delivery fee.

Um I don't know where it's coming from.

Um it's a lot of different um entities that is a that have been affecting the delivery fee.

I did go online and listen to um the commission and her.

Um, as a matter of fact, um Mr.

Hurl's been kind of helping me out trying to understand um Harold Gray because he's on the commission.

Um, but the only thing about that the commission is in Dover.

I just went virtual, and we were asking will they ever come up here and have a meeting up here?

But it doesn't seem um to be possible.

But nevertheless, any individuals need some help.

A northeast area is going to be over to the whole commission on the 25th and meeting tomorrow.

And I would like to thank um everyone who participated.

Tina Betts um culture fairs who participated in the 2025 sip from the mayor.

Um last night, uh, had the opportunity to go over uh to councilman Kobe's district and support that bar.

And I saw some pictures today where everybody was raising their glasses at various bars to have a beer with the mayor for or sit with the mayor for 250 celebration.

It was a nice turnout.

Thank you.

That'll be all thank you, Councilmember Owens.

Yes.

Um, one I just want to say thank you to my council colleagues who joined us at Wilmington's only brewery um as we did a toast to Wilmington the other night.

Um, and other than that, I would just say happy Black History Month to everyone.

Hopefully, everyone takes this time to reflect on our history um and learn something new this year.

Um, learn something new as we go into every month.

That's all I have tonight.

All right thank you.

I would like to uh thank everyone who joined us this evening in Council Chambers.

Thank you everyone for who was with us virtually as always you are you're welcome to come to all of our meetings here in Council Chambers.

If you can't make it please join us virtually you're always welcome to give public comment um something else.

So there's a meeting on February 23rd a public works meeting I'd like to thank you Councilmember Oliver for adding to the agenda a discussion on the city snow removal process.

That's going to be uh in the committee room at five o'clock right yeah five o'clock all right thank you um and with that um also if we can help you in any way here on at council please call us 302576 2140 302576 2140 with that i'll accept the motion motion to adjourn second third we move and second all in favor signify by saying aye aye any opposed motion carried thank you everyone meeting adjourned